Sprinkler alarm system.



A, GOLDSTEIN.

SPRINKLER ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED D1103, 1910.

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ALBERT GOLKJSTEIN, OF NEW" YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL ELECTRIC PROTEETION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIRINKLER ALARM SYSTEM.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 19-10. Serial No. 595,353.

' a specification.

In an application for Letters Patent, Scrial No. 555,131, filed by myself and Henry F. Blackwell April 13, 1910, there is set forth an alarm operated by the flow in a sprinkler system supply pipe, which gives warning of undue escape of water from the system; such, for example, as may happen after a fire in the building has been extinguished, with resulting drenching of the premises and consequent damage by water, sometimes in excess of that caused by the fire itself r My present invention is an improvement upon the aforesaid device, in that it keeps the apparatus always under test, so that the alarm will not only give warning of the water escape aforesaid, but will also operate when there is a failure in the apparatus, or where a stoppage or obstruction occurs in the supply pipe, thus insuring the maintenance of the system in proper working con-- dition.

The accompanying drawing is an elevation of a part of a main water supply con duit leading to a sprinkler system, to which conduit my apparatus is shown applied.

A is the main supply pipe, in which the water current moves in the direction of the arrow. is a check valve in said pipe.

B is a by-pass, having controlling plugs C, D. In the by-pass is a casing G, in which is a water Wheel of any suitable construction to be rotated by the water flow, which flow leaves the casing by the pipe H, in which is a check valve at I. On the side of the casing G is a casing J, in which is an electrical generator, the rotary member of which is carried on the shaft of the water wheel. In the segmental box M is a I pivoted coil disposed in the field of a fixed coil, and carrying on an arm 10 the armature 11 of magnet 12. Entering box M is an arm 11.3 of a pivoted bell crank lever, the other arm M of which is hooked to form a detent for the pallet tail [5 of the actuating mechanism of a break wheel 16. Saidmechanism may be of any suitable construction, including, for example, a wound spring, which, when released by the free ing of the pallet tail 15 from the detent-li, causes the wheel 16 to rotate and so make and break circuit between its spring brush 17 and contact l8, by which means an electric bell 23, energized by battery 22 and grounded at 27, is operated.

All of the foregoing parts are set forth in the aforesaid joint application, in which also the preferable construction of the generator and of the coils which control arm 10 are fully described.

My present improvement comprises additional devices, as follows: The magnet 12 is located at the end of the path of vibration of arm 10, and at the opposite end is disposed another and similar permanent magnet 30. In frontof magnet 30 is disposed one arm 31 of a bell crank lever, the other arm 32 of which forms a detent for the pallet tail 33 of the actuating mechanism of a break wheel 34. Said mechanism may, as before,-be a wound spring, which, whenreleased by the freeing of the pallet tail 33 from the detent 32, causes the wheel 34 to make and'break circuit between its spring brush 35 and contact 36. On the winding shaft of break wheel 34 is an arm 37, and in by-pass B is a valve-controlled outlet duct K, the purpose of which arm and duct will be explained farther on." a

brush 17,

The circuit is as follows: from by wire 19, which enters tube 7, through the wall thereof at 20, and leaves said tube at 21, to battery 22, bell magnet 23, wire 24-, which enters tube 7, throu h the wall thereof at 25, and leaves said tu e at 26, to spring brush 35, contact'36, contact 18, and-so to' brush 17.

The operation of the device is as follows The duct K is normally open so as to permit the escape of a small amount of water on the delivery side of the water wheel in casing G. This insures a constant slow rotation of said wheel and a corresponding supply of current to the coils in box M. The

adjustmentof the coils is to be such as that,

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

to'box'M. Similarly, if the water wheel is stopped by any cause, no current will flow, The usual retracting spring connected to arm will then draw said arm to the left,

'into the field of magnet 30, and in so moving, said arm will trip the detent 32 and free break wheel 34:, which in rotating will dotted lines, and in so moving it meets arma-,

normal middle position.

send a signal to line. During the rotation of wheel 34, the arm137 is turned by the winding shaft'to the position indicated by ture 11, moves it from the field of magnet 30 and restores said armature and arm 10 to In case of How from the sprinklers, 'or from any part of the system beyond the duct K, the speed of the water wheel is increased, and the stronger tinues. constructed so as to send a different signal current generated swings the arm 10 into the-field of magnet 12. This magnet then attracts armature 11 to operate the bell crank lever and release the break wheel 16, thus causing the alarm to sound and continue sounding for as long-as saidfiow con- The break wheel 34. is preferably from that'caused' by wheel 16. Either the stoppage of the escape flow at duct K, or an obstruction in the system on the inlet side of duct K, or any accidental arrest of the water wheel, will thus result in a signal being given by the alarm; and any increase of flow suflicient to generate current enough to swing armature 11 into the field of magnet '12 w1ll' produce a continuous and difi'erent signal.

I claim: v 1. In combination with a conduit for liquid flow, a signal translating means,two signal transmitting devices, and means controlled by said flow for actuating said dev ces: one

' of said devices operating to actuate said translating means when said flow falls be-.

low, and the other of said devices operating to actuate said translating, means when sald flow rises above a predetermined rate.

2. In combination with a conduit for liquid flow, a signal translating means, a signal transmitting device, and means controlled 4. In combination with a conduit for liquid' flow, a by-pass thereon, a water wheel inter-' poscd in and actuated by the flow in said by-pass, a signal transmitting device controlled by said wheel and operating upon a reduction of said flow-below a-predetermined rate, and a second transmitting device controlled by said wheel and operating upon an increase of said flow above saidrate.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT GOLD STEIN.

VVitness'es:

GERTRUDE T. PORTER, MAY T. MOGARRY. 

